Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-02
FRICTION IN CONGRESS-
THE JEALOUSY OF THE TWO
HOUSES CROPS OUT.

Ee0IluR-Ino Loss OF the Bill f'Orie1J-
ing Certain Lands Granted the North
ern Pacific Railroad Furnishes
Another Example.
WASHINGTON, Feb. lin the Senate
to-day MIR. Call presented a letter from
Hon. H. B. Plant, the railroad and steam
ship man. stating reasons why Tampa,
Fla. should be made a port of entry.
The letter was referred to the Committee
on Commerce.
Mr.. Harris, of Tennessee, moved to
proceed to consideration of the resolution
heretofore offered by him, to the effect
that at the conclusion of the morning
business each day the Senate shall pro-
ceed to consider House bills on the calen-
dar.
MIR. ingalls, inquired whether the House
of Representative had resolved to devote
any particular time to the consideration
of Senate bills. When such action should
be taken by the House, so that there
would be decent interchange of cour-
tesy in the matter, be would be willing
to consider the resolution.
THE ACTION OF THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Harris replied that while the
House had adopted no standing rule on
the subject, it mad devoted two days last
week 10 the consideration OF Senate bills
on Its calendar, and there was now pend
ing in the House proposition to devote
Othel days to that purpose.
Mr.. Dawes made q suggestion as TO its
being out of order to discuss matters and
modes of business in the other House.
Mir. IHgalls hoped that the Senator from
Massachusetts, would possess his soul in
patience. The idea that there was some
divinity which hedged about the House of
Representatives, so that nobody could
mention it without getting down on his
knees, was a superstitiOn-a relic of the
dark ages-which ought TO be abandoned.
DECENCY AND PROPERTY.
Mr.. Dawes suggested that there was a
Sense Of prOpriety and decency which
ought to govern the Senate, however
strange that might seem to some Senators.
He regretted that it did not commend it.
self to that regard Tor propriety which
always governed the Senator from Kan
sas.
After this little interchange of Senate
rial cOurtesies the motion to consider the
resolution was rejected, and Mr.. Harris
gave notice that he would repeat 1t to-
morrow.
Mr.. Morgan (by request) introduced a
bill TO encourage the holding of a National
Industrial Exposition in 1873 of the arts
and products of the colored race. The
bill was referred.
The bill authorizing the Secretary of
War TO transfer to the trustees of the Por-
ter Acad2mv certain property in Charles
ton, 5. c., " as reported by Mr.. Hampton
from the Military Committee and placed
on the calendar.
The Senate tnen, at 12:45 O'Clock, re-
sumed consideration of the sundry civil
appropriation bill.
NORTHERN PACIFIC LAND GRANTS.
Consideration of the bill was inter-
+ fupted to allow OF the presentation OF a
message from the House requesting the
Senate TO furnish the House with a du-
plicate engrOssed copy OF the Senate bill
forfe.ting certain lands of the Northern
Pacific railroad grant. In connection
with the message Mr.. Dolph, one of the
Senate cOnterees, made a statement CIV
ing history of the matter. He sent to
the desk and had read communication, g,
dated Jan. 20, from MessTs. Dolph. Teller
and Cockrell, the Senate cOnferees on tb at
bill, to Messrs. Cobb, Van Eaton and
Payson, the House conferees. This COM
munication calls attention to the matter
OF the conference, and gives a history Of
the bill from July 27, 1886, when it passed
the House with an amendment, down to
the close of the session. 1t states that
4 just before the close OF the session, and as
soon as it could be arranged for, a meet
ing of the conference committee WAS held,
"A when 'it was determined without much
discussion to report to the two houses
that the committee were unable TO agree,
and to ask for further conference.
''rbe managers on the part of the Senate
being under tue impression that the
House was entitled to retain the bill and
that the report should and would first be
Z made iu that body, awaited its action.
"a THE BILL MISSING.
"a "Early in the present session, the COM
munication states, the Senate managers
through Mr.. Dolph, called the attention
Of the managers on the part Of the House
to the matter, and requested that report
n should be submitted TO the House and The
Senate notified. Shortly after the holiday
recess (nothing having been done)
Mr.. Dolph applied to Mr.. COBB for pos
session OF the papers, and was informed
by Mr.. Cobb that he did not have the DILL
4 In his possession at the time OF the con-
ference, and also that he had mslad the
House copy of the conference report. At
{ Mr.. CObb's request be was furnished, on
Jan. IL. with u copy OF the conference re.
port and was asked lin communication
from the clerk OF the senate Committee
on Public Lands) TO return the bill. Mr..
Cobb wrote the next day that he had not
got the bill in his possession and had not
hAg IL since he reported 1t to the House
frse1 his committee (the Committee on
Public Lauds) last Sc ssion. On inquiry
Mt the clerks desk in the House 1t was
4 ascertalned that the bill could not be
found.
THE HOUSE INACTIVE.
"ThereupOn Mr.. Dolph requested Mr..
y Cobb to take the necessary steps to sub.
stitute copy OF the bill in the usual
manner. IL was understood then, the
communication states, that the matter
would receive due attention without de-
lay. Since then the managers upon the
part Of the Senate, through Mr. Dolph.
have repeatedly called attention to The
/ subject and requested that immediate
steps be taken o dnd the bill or TO substi.
tute copy for II. But so far as we have
learned no action has yet been had. The
session is drawing to close. In our
Judgment it is important that an agree
ment should be reached by the conference
committee. AT all events an effort in
good faith on both sides TO reach an
agreement should at once be made We
therefore request that as the House was
last In possession OF the Diil. and therefore
the action for the purpose OF substituting
a copy or 1t cannot be found) must
originate there, you cause whatever may
be necessary in the premises to be done
at once, in order that the report OF the